Hildebrand snubs last offer

Timo Hildebrand is to leave Stuttgart after rejecting their final contract offer.

Timo Hildebrand, linked with a move to Manchester United in some quarters over the weekend, is ready to leave Stuttgart.

The highly-rated keeper is behind Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann in the pecking order for Jurgen Klinsmann's Germany side but has been a consistent performer in Die Bundesliga.

Despite being offered a new contract to stay with the Schwaben, the 25-year-old has decided that his future lies elsewhere by rejecting the final offer from his club.

Stuttgart have already declared an interest in acquiring Lehmann as a replacement, and Arsenal could consider Hildebrand as a potential recruit themselves if Arsene Wenger seeks a new keeper in the summer.

However, it was Premiership rivals United who were linked with a move for the Worms-born shot-stopper in some tabloid newspapers on Sunday.

"We regret his decision but accept the fact that Timo has decided to reject our offer," lamented Stuttgart president Erwin Staudt.

The Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion outfit were reportedly prepared to increase Hildebrand's salary from an estimated ‚é¼500,000 to around ‚é¼1.8 million but the keeper's mind was made up. 

The news will doubtless increase speculation over his future and England might not be the obvious destination.

Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin have been credited with an interest in the past but denied they were lining up a swoop for the Stuttgart number one.